Do not think it is a daunting task to make your home healthy
Creating a nutritionally healthy home is one of the most important steps you can take to ensure the health of your kids. To start, make smart food choices, and help your kids develop a positive relationship with healthy food. Your children will learn their food smarts from your example.
Here are the top 10 tips for getting children to eat healthy food:
1. Do not restrict food. Restricting food increases the risk your child may develop eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia later in life. It can also have a negative effect on growth and development. Also by restricting food you will actually increase the risk of overeating later in the day which will cause weight gain.
2. Keep healthy food at hand. Children will eat what\’s readily available. Keep fruit in a bowl on the counter, not buried in the crisper section of your fridge. Remember, your child can only choose foods that you stock in the house, by limiting \’junk food\’ you will, by default, teach your child how to choose healthier foods.
3. Avoid labeling foods as healthy and unhealthy. Rather, associate foods to areas of interest to your children, such as sports, school, and favorite hobbies. Make your children aware of the fact that certain super foods, such as turkey and yogurt, provide the physical and mental energy to strengthen their sports and academic achievement.
4. Praise healthy choices. Give your children a proud smile and tell them how smart they are when they choose healthy foods. Kids thrive on positive reinforcement!
5. Don\’t nag about unhealthy choices. If your child chooses unhealthy foods infrequently, ignore it. However, if your child always wants fatty, fried food, redirect the choice. You might try roasting potato sticks in the oven (tossed in just a bit of oil) instead of buying french fries. Or, if your child wants candy, you might make fresh strawberries dipped in a little chocolate sauce. Too busy? Then keep naturally sweet dried fruit at home for quick snacks. With consistent effort taste buds change and soon your child will be craving healthy foods.
6. Refrain from utilizing food as a prize. Such acts usually lead to weight problems for your children later in life. Conversely, you should honor your children by taking them swimming, hiking, skiing, or with a game of catch. So long as it is something which engages them in physical activity.
7. Sit down to family dinners at night. If this isn\’t a tradition in your home, it should be. Research shows that children who eat dinners at the table with their parents have better nutrition and are less likely to get in serious trouble as teenagers. Start with one night a week, and then work up to three or four, to gradually build the habit.
8. Dish the food out in the kitchen. In the kitchen, you the parent can place healthy food portions on your children\’s dinner plates. Over the course of time, your children will be able to see what a healthy portion of food looks like.
9. Give the kids some control. Ask your children to take three bites of all the foods on their plate and give it a grade, such as A, B, C, D, or F. When healthy foods – especially certain vegetables — get high grades, serve them more often. Offer the items your children don\’t like less frequently. This lets your children participate in decision making. After all, dining is a family affair!
10. Try to consult your pediatrician. Always try and talk with your child\’s doctor before putting your child on a diet, trying to help your child gain weight, or making any significant changes in the type of foods your child eats. If weight change is recommended, seek the help of proper literature on the subject.
Looking resources to assist in weight loss for kids, then visit Megan Hillard\’s website to find the best advice on weight loss for children, your children.
